2009 Neal Family Vineyards Rutherford Dust Petite Syrah 750ml

After a few years of producing just 22 cases a year from one barrel, I planted a few acres of Petite Syrah on the property where I was raised in Rutherford, the heart of Napa Valley. When my parents purchased the property in the 1960’s there were walnuts and other varieties of winegrapes, but we see Petite Syrah, as well as our Zinfandel (first planted in 1971), as a perfect fit for this part of Napa Valley. I choose a field selection of a clone that had been growing in my Uncle Danny’s St. Helena vineyard since 1906 and it yields a crop of small berry, intensely colored and flavored grapes for this single vineyard wine. Like all of our vineyards, this fruit is organically grown and certified by CCOF, estate produced and bottled on my Howell Mountain winery.

In 2009 our wines show great depth and intensity. Petite Syrah usually has that in any vintage but this year even more so. Very dark and inky in color with aromas of blackberry, cherry, pomegranate, and chocolate, plus hints of cedar wood, forest and sweet smoke. Dark chocolate, intense black fruit and tobacco flavors are balanced with good acidity and firm, mouth-coating tannin. The finish is long and powerful thanks to the tannin, and leaves a lingering hint of nutmeg spice.